MSc Petroleum Engineering

Since its establishment in 1975, the Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering (IGE) (originally the Department of Petroleum Engineering) at Heriot-Watt University has delivered its internationally renowned Petroleum Engineering MSc programme, providing thousands of graduates with the knowledge and skills to tackle the oil and gas industry’s most challenging problems across the globe.

The programme includes a combination of lectures, tutorials, field-trips, and self-study using rich course content, real field data, latest industry software and seminars by industry experts. The dynamic nature of our research-led, industry-focussed, multi-disciplinary approach to delivery means that graduates will be technically well-prepared with a sound knowledge of the industry and society requirements. In addition to traditional petroleum engineering topics, the programme now includes material related to energy transition along with data science.

Energy Transition aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy security, and support long-term environmental and economic sustainability- enhancing global equity. Petroleum engineering remains vital during the energy transition. Its core skills-subsurface analysis, reservoir management, and fluid flow-are directly applicable to geoenergy solutions like geothermal energy extraction as well as carbon and hydrogen storage. Efficient extraction and utilization of fossil fuels also ensures minimal environmental impact while bridging towards a more sustainable, resource-conscious energy future.

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree, or its non-UK equivalent in an engineering subject or a physical or earth science discipline, including evidence of a good understanding of mathematics. Degrees in chemistry, maths, physics, geology or computing may also be considered with demonstrable maths ability. In addition, work or project experience in a related company role will be taken into consideration, please include your CV as part of your application.